Chris Ballard will retain Chuck Pagano in 2017 as head coach of the Indianapolis Colts before reevaluating him for the 2018 season.

While Jim Irsay announced Jan. 21 that Pagano would return next season, there was some belief that Ballard would choose to dismiss Pagano and hire his own coach. 

The former Kansas City Chiefs director of football operations is replacing Ryan Grigson, who was fired after the Colts had consecutive 8-8 seasons and missed the playoffs.

The Colts will have more than $50 million in salary-cap space during free agency to build around Andrew Luck.